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Friday, November 16, 2012

FLIGHT

They ran through the sun-lit blades of grass, she swinging
the golden cap belonging to the washed makeshift firefly-catching jar that once
use to house sticky grape jelly, and he grasping the glass jar with both hands,
holding it in a horizontal position in order to have a better chance of
collecting the fiery creatures.

This was Adeline and Mitchell’s newfound interest, and they
had been diligently meeting at dusk to go on the hunt every day now for two entire
weeks. For nine-year-olds, this was absolute eternity.

“Mitchell, it’s not a
stupid idea! Don’t you get it?? We’re gonna be rich if we can catch even a
jar-full of fireflies!”

These were the stubborn words Mitchell had heard two weeks
prior from the determined Adeline, who happened to live across the country road
from his family’s small wood-planked home. Mitchell had no idea what his strong
commitment to Adeline meant, but he ended up following along with his stubborn
friend like he always did.

As they ran through the grassy pasture barefoot, dodging the
sheep and occasional cow, Mitchell and Adeline tirelessly tried to capture the
fireflies in futile efforts. As the sky darkened with the diminishing rays of
the sun, they knew it was nearing the time to head home for dinner.

Adeline reached her small arms up into the air, curling her
tiny fingers in frustration. “We’re NEVER gonna catch them, Mitchell!”

Mitchell, knowing that Adeline wasn’t one to usually give
up, tried to think of something to comfort his aggravated adventurer.

“…Maybe we can catch the rest of the sun, Adie?” he asked
hopefully. “I heard you can save it forever, and it keeps you from getting
sad.”

Adeline looked at Mitchell, puzzled at first by his offer.

“Er…okay. Guess so…well, hurry! We don’t have much time!!”

Once again invigorated by the thought of a plan that would
actually work, Adeline ran ahead of Mitchell, swinging the cap of the jar and
yelling and pointing out spots where Mitchell needed to capture the last rays
of the sun touching the grass.

The beautiful fireflies circled in flight around Adeline and
Mitchell, who were no longer interested in hunting them.

More than fifteen years later, Mitchell looks at the
sun-filled jar on the shelf above his dresser, always thinking of Adeline.
Adeline, always quick to live life how she pleased, was in Croatia at the
moment, enjoying the sights, couch-surfing with new acquaintances, and painting
the breathtaking views around her each day. Mitchell, always the logical one,
preferred not to take risks like quitting his well-paying job to travel the
world like a gypsy. However, since Adeline had reluctantly left after trying to
convince him to come with her, Mitchell was growing weary of missing her.

What Adeline didn’t know was that Mitchell would soon be on
the 6:50 AM flight headed in her direction. He had quit his job only a few days prior,
taking part of a risk in order to confess his undying love for her, and he was
ready to jump into the adventure of Adeline’s love-filled life.

This day, Mitchell was sitting in the leather seat at the
airport, awaiting the boarding of the plane. He had only one well-cared-for leather carry on for the adventure ahead of him, in addition to the glass jar
that he clutched between both hands. This time, the jar was safely sitting
vertically in his lap, containing both the sunshine he and Adeline had caught
years ago, along with the rare sea foam green diamond ring passed down from his
great grandmother inside.

In less than a moment, it was time for the flight’s
departure, and Mitchell was on his way.